_To Mr. M――――._
_Edinburgh, July 29, 1751._
THROUGH the tender mercies of a never-failing Redeemer, I came here
safe yesterday noon. In the evening, and this morning, I preached the
everlasting gospel to thronged auditories, and met with a very kind
reception from my friends. LORD make me humble, LORD JESUS make me
truly thankful! As his interest seems to be concerned, and the King’s
business requires haste, I take this first opportunity of writing
about the _Virginia_ affair. In that province, there has been for some
years past, a great awakening, especially in _Hanover_ county, and
the ♦counties adjacent. As the ministers of the establishment did not
favour the work, and the first awakened persons put themselves under
the care of the _New-York_ synod, the poor people were from time to
time fined, and very much harrassed for not attending on the church
service:――And as the awakening was supposed to be begun by the reading
of my books, at the instigation of the council a proclamation was
issued out to prohibit itinerant preaching. However, before I left
_Virginia_, one Mr. _D――――_ (an excellent young man) was licensed, and
settled over a congregation. Since that, the awakening has increased,
so that Mr. _D――――_ writes, “that one congregation is multiplied to
seven.” He desires liberty to license more houses, and to preach
occasionally to all, as there is no minister but himself. This, though
allowed of in _England_, is denied in _Virginia_, which grieves the
people very much. The commissary is one of the council, and with
the rest of his brethren, I believe no friend to the Dissenters. The
late Lieutenant-Governor was like-minded.――I therefore think that Mr.
_D――――_ is raised up to succeed him, in order to befriend the church
of GOD, and the interest of CHRIST’s people. They desire no other
privileges than what dissenting protestants enjoy in our native country.
This I am persuaded your brother-in-law will be glad to secure to them.
I shall write to Mr. _D――――_ to wait upon his Honour immediately after
his arrival. I pray the GOD of the sea, and the GOD of the dry land,
to send him a safe and speedy passage, and make him a long and great
blessing to the inhabitants of _Virginia_. You may improve these hints
as you please. I beg the prayers both of yourself and dear yoke-fellow,
and assure you, that neither you nor yours are forgotten by, reverend
and dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD,
_G. W._
♦ “countries” replaced with “counties”